Photo via Island Facebook page

After being shutdown for nearly a year, Island Waterpark in Fresno will be opening up its grounds next weekend — not for fun in the sun, but for a new event.

The Fresno Swap Meet will have its grand opening on March 14 at the Island Waterpark’s parking lot.

Applications are open for vendors interested in renting a space and selling their wares.

Admission and parking will be free to the public for the debut of the Fresno Swap Meet.

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, entertainment venues such as water parks are closed and Bob Martin, general manager of Island Waterpark, said that he and management were thinking of ways to utilize the large space and bring in some revenue.

“We not looking to reinvent ourselves, but we’ve been taking a hard look at what we can do with our facility that’s relatively safe in the open air and that the public could enjoy,” Martin said.

The Fresno Swap Meet is not aiming to be in competition with other local swap meets in the region such as the Cherry Auction Swap Meet, Sunnyside Swap Meet or the Selma Flea Market. The goal is to bring an open-air market to residents near the Highway City neighborhood at Shaw Avenue and Highway 99.

Martin said that the rates for renting a space will be relatively cheaper than those of other swap meets in the area.

The grand opening day for the swap meet will carry specials starting out at $5 for a 9 by 12 foot space. Most vendors rent an average space of 18 by 24 feet for $10.

Martin said his revenue manager had noticed how many vendors show up at local swap meets just hoping to get a spot and asked why they shouldn’t do the same thing at the Island Waterpark.

Martin took the idea to the owner of the Island Waterpark, explaining that they could use the space eight months out of the year to make some revenue and retain management staff.

There will be vetting of vendors to ensure a variety of sellers, and to avoid prohibited items such as weapons, live animals or drug paraphernalia.

Phillip Salinas, revenue and general manager of the swap meet, said they are already approaching the 100-vendor mark and that currently, he expects the parking lot could accommodate 200 to 300 vendors and still have enough parking for about 1,000 guests.

Vendors will not be allowed to sell food not approved by management, but there will be food trucks onsite.

“We have a good relationship with Fresno Street Eats and they approached us to ask to get out there, so they will have about a dozen food trucks on our opening day for the first two weeks and each week they will change it up so nothing gets stale,” Salinas said.

Even if rates for spaces go up, which Martin expects them to, he still says it’s imperative to keep prices lower than other markets to be able to give the community a chance to raise money for themselves.

Martin said he has had neighbors express concerns about traffic, but he assures them that if the park could handle 8,000 guests for the water park in one day, the swap meet traffic should be easy to manage.

There is also excitement from the community in having a place to do some shopping and eating near where they live, which is something that Martin was surprised by.

“I’m excited that myself and the owner have figured out a way to help out the management staff that has stuck by us here through the pandemic,” Martin said. “They had chances to go to other places and we were able to retain them.”

The event will take place each Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Anyone interested in applying can visit https://www.fresnoswapmeet.com/home